<p>I am a freshman and I really hate the school I am at. I know I need to give it more time, but if by Christmas break I still don't like it is it ok to transfer? Do many freshmen transfer between their first semesters? Is it easier to fit in if you wait until the fall? Do transfers have a hard time making friends?</p>
<p>It depends on which school you're applying to for a transfer and how many credits you have taken the first semester.</p>
<p>The problem is that if you plan to transfer spring semester now is the time you need to get your applications out. It cannot wait for Christmas break. You would have to check deadlines for the schools you are considering a transfer to and see when the apps need to be in for the fall as well. </p>
<p>What is it you dislike at your current school? Is it the school itself, the social life, the location? What schools would you consider a transfer to?</p>
<p>I go to Loyola which is a good school in Chicago. I don't feel like I fit in here socially, and my family is three hours away which makes me very homesick. I don't really know what I want anymore because I thought this was what I wanted. I feel like I should give it more time, but then like you said I need to work on applications. Should I apply to different schools now and then decide what I am going to do this winter? Would it be transferring too much to go back to my community college for a semester and then transfer somewhere else next fall? I want to get into dental school, so I don't want any of this to affect my chances at that.</p>
<p>Many schools don't accept spring transfers. And, as LilyMoon says, application deadlines might get in your way. Most people who figure out by Christmas break that they want to transfer are starting their applications at that time, for <em>Fall</em> transfer, as they tend to be due early/midway through Spring semester.</p>
<p>Now, if you are not thinking about highly or even moderately selective schools, there are probably a number of schools where you could effectively "walk on" for Spring semester with minimal application angst and little need for advance planning.</p>
<p>So it depends on where you want to transfer.</p>
<p>I would not worry about a transfer, per se, affecting your chances at dental school. Having been to a different school earlier in your college career for 1-4 semesters will not diminish your chances.</p>
<p>You are right to think that what you may need is simply more time. Many many students feel some remorse/uncertainty about where they find themselves at this particular point in freshman year. It is some kind of "October/November" syndrome. Most of them are quite happy with their school by the time 2nd semester comes around. This is a tough adjustment period, it seems. The newness is gone. You are acutely aware of how close you were with your hs friends and how you have not found that same closeness where you are now. IT TAKES TIME. You won't have the depth of friendship after 4 weeks that you developed over 4 (or more) years with your hometown friends. All of which means that it may not be you, or a poor fit with your current school. Rather it is an adjustment. For many the first big life adjustment they have encountered.</p>
<p>This is not to say that you are wrong in thinking you might want to transfer. Just that what you're feeling could be adjustment not a wrong choice. If transfer is the right thing, you can either see what your options are for schools which accept spring transfers, or give it more time.</p>
<p>It will work out in the end.</p>